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Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan Driving Advice and Car Hire Info

Driving in Turkmenistan
Main Roads in larger towns are usually in acceptable condition and main roads across the country are satisfactory by Central Asian standards though the Darvaza – Kunya Urgench road is in poor condition in places. Smaller roads are likely to be in poor condition , especially after bad weather. Away from towns the roads will generally be in a poor state of repair, and will be unlit. You should therefore avoid travelling after dark. There are other hazards to beware of such as unlit, overloaded vehicles in a poor state of repair and camel crossings on some rural roads. Driving standards will be variable and you should drive defensively and expect the unexpected from other road users and pedestrians.

Turkmenistan Car Rental –
It currently appears impossible to rent a self drive car in Turkmenistan. I’ve been told that you have to take a Government approved guide when travelling outside Ashgabat, though that isn’t mentioned on the US State department site or The UK Foreign Office site which says – “Ashgabat, the Caspian port of Turkmenbashi, and the ancient Silk Road city of Merv/Mary are not in restricted areas”. I contacted Ayan Travel http://www.ayan-travel.com/about_us.html who are based in the country and they told me that self drive is currently ‘forbidden’. Therefore, at present driving yourself doesn’t seem to be an option. If this changes in future and you manage to rent a car here, please let me know.

1 comment

the main highways outside Ashgabat are no better than Kazakhstan. the highways in the east near mary are really bad with massive potholes. i think its like that all around. overall I would say the roads are below central asian standards outside of Ashgabat

“It currently appears impossible to rent a self drive car in Turkmenistan. I’ve been told that you have to take a Government approved guide when travelling outside Ashgabat, though that isn’t mentioned on the US State department site or The UK Foreign Office site which says – “Ashgabat, the Caspian port of Turkmenbashi, and the ancient Silk Road city of Merv/Mary are not in restricted areas”. ”

yes, that’s correct. to go outside Ashgabat you are required to have a guide. I didn’t go to Turkmenbashi (it’s probably the same) but in Mary I was allowed to walk around on my own. You just need a guide to drive you to/from there if you don’t fly in/out. Merv is an archeological site a long drive from Mary. It’s some of the worst roads i’ve ever been on